Xia Xiang was not the burly, muscular type. Although he didn't look like a frail scholar, he certainly wasn't someone who exuded strength and vigor. Xiao Jia clung tightly to Xia Xiang, afraid that he would really leave her and run away. After all, those two men were right; Xia Xiang was not her boyfriend, and there was no reason for him to stand up for her or take responsibility.
Not only did Xiao Jia believe that Xia Xiang would surely save himself and run, but even the two hooligans also assumed that after scaring him, Xia Xiang would flee with his tail between his legs without a second thought. These two had been following Xia Xiang and Xiao Jia for a while, observing that Xia Xiang was not only unaffectionate towards Xiao Jia but seemed somewhat indifferent. The two hooligans, having drunk a bit of alcohol, felt emboldened. Seeing how stunningly beautiful Xiao Jia was, they developed lecherous intentions. They followed them to this secluded spot and found half a brick, planning to scare off the man and then have their way with the girl.
Xia Xiang chuckled lightly, gently pushing away Xiao Jia's hands, and said, "Thank you, big brothers, for letting me go. I'll leave right now and won't get in your way. I'll leave immediately!" Without looking at Xiao Jia, he walked straight toward the two hooligans, "My home is over there. Please, big brothers, make way..."
Xiao Jia's face turned ashen, her hands twisted together, and her whole body trembled. She wanted to call out to Xia Xiang, but despite opening her mouth, she couldn't utter a sound.
The two hooligans saw Xia Xiang walking over with a smirk, positioning himself right between them. Seeing his cooperation and his submissive posture, they felt quite pleased. Both stepped aside, making a path for Xia Xiang. The one in the floral shirt even smugly added, "It's smart not to fight when you're outnumbered, brother. You've got good judgment. It's not like she's your girl, so why bother? We'll have some fun now..."
As Xia Xiang reached the middle, his expression suddenly darkened, his eyes blazing with fury. He roared, "Go to hell!"
Before he finished speaking, he delivered a powerful punch to the floral-shirted man's abdomen—the softest and most vulnerable part of the human body. A light hit could cause excruciating pain, and under Xia Xiang's full force, the floral-shirted man doubled over in agony, unable to even cry out.
Seizing the moment, Xia Xiang snatched the half-brick from the floral-shirted man's hand and swung it hard, hitting the bare-chested man on the left. The blow struck solidly, and with a loud thud, the bare-chested man staggered forward, nearly falling to the ground. Xia Xiang didn't let the opportunity slip. He spun around, grabbed the bare-chested man's hair, yanked him down, and brought his knee up, smashing it into the man's face. The impact made the bare-chested man's face blossom with pain, and he screamed, spinning in circles before collapsing to the ground, writhing in agony.
The floral-shirted man, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events and still in immense pain, tried to straighten up and counterattack. But Xia Xiang swiftly crouched down, using his left leg as a pivot and his right leg to sweep, striking the floral-shirted man's shin. The fragile shin couldn't withstand the blow, and the floral-shirted man fell flat on his face.
In just a few seconds, Xia Xiang had taken down both hooligans with quick, ruthless strikes. Xiao Jia stood there, mouth agape, utterly shocked, as if witnessing something unbelievable.
After subduing the two, Xia Xiang still felt unsatisfied and kicked each of them once, cursing, "Bastards, learning to be thugs at such a young age. I despise men who use force against women. If you can't even win a woman's heart willingly, you're a worthless loser..."
Seeing Xia Xiang's fierce expression, Xiao Jia snapped out of her daze, shivering. Was this the same Xia Xiang who was always shy and never angry? When provoked, he was terrifying!
After venting, Xia Xiang noticed Xiao Jia still standing there. He grabbed her hand and started running, "Come on, run! What if they have more friends? If I can't handle them, I might have to sacrifice you." He chuckled, reverting to his usual youthful self.
Xiao Jia was confused. Who exactly was this Xia Xiang?
They ran hand in hand, finally reaching Xia Xiang's rented place, where they stopped, panting. They exchanged a glance, and Xiao Jia, still shaken, patted her chest, saying, "That was scary. Those scumbags, those rascals..." Her vocabulary for insults was limited.
"Thank you, Xia Xiang!" Xiao Jia said sincerely, her hand resting on her chest, right between her breasts, though her eyes showed only gratitude, no flirtation.
Xia Xiang waved dismissively, "I hate men who force women. I'll beat them every time I see them."
Still trembling, Xiao Jia stammered, "Xia Xiang, it's too late. I'm scared... Can I stay here for the night? I'll sleep on the floor."
Xia Xiang lived on the second floor of a small building with five single rooms per floor, each 15 square meters and costing 80 yuan per month. The five tenants shared a bathroom and kitchen, but since most were single, the hygiene was decent.
Xia Xiang initially wanted to refuse, but seeing her fearful eyes, he relented. Fortunately, his room was relatively tidy, though socks and underwear were scattered around. He quickly gathered these items, not wanting to embarrass Xiao Jia.
Xiao Jia curled up on the bed, thinking about the incident and feeling grateful. Xia Xiang apologized, saying there was no hot water, only cold. Despite the dim light, her long legs were enticing, and her pitiful appearance tugged at his heart. But he felt no desire, not being a lecher or a opportunist. He simply instructed her to wash her face and sleep, then leaned on the sofa, preparing to rest.
"Xia Xiang, how are you so strong? Do you know martial arts?" Xiao Jia asked, lying fully clothed, feeling cold despite the summer heat.
"I learned from my uncle when I was young. He loved martial arts and knew some techniques."
After a while, Xiao Jia asked, "You don't have a girlfriend?"
"Sort of not..."
"Thank you, Xia Xiang. If it weren't for your bravery, I wouldn't have made it through tonight."
"Don't think too much about it. I just happened to be there. Even if I got hurt, I couldn't let bad people harm you, right?"
"Can you do me another favor?" Xiao Jia's voice grew softer, almost dreamy.
"What?"
"Could you... hold me? I'm cold."
Xia Xiang wrapped his arms around Xiao Jia, hands crossing over her chest. She curled up like an injured kitten, clutching his hands, her softness making his heart flutter. He closed his eyes, avoiding her delicate neck.
...
Before dawn, Xia Xiang woke up, feeling his hardness pressing against Xiao Jia's buttocks. Feeling uneasy, he gently pulled away and went to the balcony for some fresh air, doing a few push-ups to cool down. Unbeknownst to him, as soon as he left, Xiao Jia opened her eyes, a mix of shyness and triumph in her gaze, a dimple appearing on her left cheek.
Xiao Jia washed her face and fixed her hair, then left with Xia Xiang. As they stepped out, a short, bespectacled girl with acne emerged from a nearby room. About 20 years old, she glared at Xia Xiang and Xiao Jia, pouting, "Brother Xia, you said you didn't have a girlfriend. How come you're living together so soon? You're breaking my heart. You've ruined your image in my eyes!"
Xia Xiang laughed, "Hu Feng, stop teasing me. Everyone knows you have countless admirers, all far better than me. Don't you say you're always worried about how to reject all the love letters you receive?"
Hu Feng raised her head, proud, "Who am I? I'm Hu Feng, unmatched in 1000 years, forward and backward. I wouldn't be interested in you, Xia Xiang. That's a joke!"
She marched into the bathroom, head held high.
Xiao Jia couldn't help but laugh.
Xia Xiang's place was a ten-minute walk from the company. On the way, he said, "Xiao Jia, don't tell anyone about yesterday. We need to take things slowly, no rush."
Xiao Jia nodded, "It's our secret. I won't tell anyone."
Xia Xiang wondered what Gao Hai had discussed with Li Dingshan the previous night, but Li Dingshan didn't show up all day, and no one knew where he was.